Katharine McPhee
Known for
Born in Los Angeles in 1984, Katharine McPhee is an American singer and actress who first came to national attention as the runner-up of American Idol in 2006. She translated that platform into a Billboard chart pop career and then into acting, headlining NBC's musical drama Smash (2012) as aspiring Broadway star Karen Cartwright. She played the psychologist Paige Dineen for four seasons of the CBS action series Scorpion (2014), and returned to Broadway in Waitress (2018). She has also toured internationally with her husband, composer David Foster, blending stage concert work with her ongoing television career.
Katharine McPhee
12 Movies
7 Series
Born in Los Angeles in 1984, Katharine McPhee is an American singer and actress who first came to national attention as the runner-up of American Idol in 2006. She translated that platform into a Billboard chart pop career and then into acting, headlining NBC's musical drama Smash (2012) as aspiring Broadway star Karen Cartwright. She played the psychologist Paige Dineen for four seasons of the CBS action series Scorpion (2014), and returned to Broadway in Waitress (2018). She has also toured internationally with her husband, composer David Foster, blending stage concert work with her ongoing television career.
Movies
Plays Harmony
The House Bunny
2008
Plays Beth
Shark Night 3D
2011
Plays Caroline Horton
The Tiger Rising
2022
Plays Masha Nikitin
You May Not Kiss the Bride
2011
Plays Natalie Russo
In My Dreams
2015
Plays Sara
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding
2011
Plays Paramount Girl
Crazy
2008
Plays Kathleen “Kathie” McCormack
The Lost Wife of Robert Durst
2017
Plays Shelly
Bayou Caviar
2018
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration
Full Filmography
The Tiger Rising
Caroline Horton
2022
Film
Country Comfort
Bailey · 10 episodes
2021
TV
Bombshell in Concert
Self
2020
Film
Intensive Care
Kate Richards
2020
Film
Katharine McPhee: Live on Soundstage
Self
2018
Film
Bayou Caviar
Shelly
2018
Film
The Lost Wife of Robert Durst
Kathleen “Kathie” McCormack
2017
Film
Scorpion - Tech, Drugs, and Rock 'n Roll
Paige Dineen
2015
Film
Scorpion
Paige Dineen · 93 episodes
2014–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Katharine McPhee and where are they from?
Katharine McPhee is 42 years old, born on March 25, 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Katharine McPhee?
Katharine McPhee is best known for roles in The House Bunny, Shark Night 3D, In My Dreams.
How many movies has Katharine McPhee been in?
Over a 19-year career (since 2007), Katharine McPhee has appeared in 10 movies and 7 TV shows.
What was Katharine McPhee's first movie?
The career of Katharine McPhee began with Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade (2007).
What is Katharine McPhee's most recent movie or series?
Katharine McPhee's most recent release is Andrea Bocelli - The Celebration：30th Anniversary, which premiered on December 1, 2025.
What TV shows has Katharine McPhee appeared in?
On television, Katharine McPhee has appeared in Family Guy, Scorpion, Community, CSI: NY.
Katharine McPhee
1984-03-25 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Katharine Hope McPhee Foster (born March 25, 1984) is an American pop singer, songwriter and actress. She gained fame as the runner-up on the fifth season of American Idol in May 2006.
Her eponymous debut album was released on RCA Records on January 30, 2007, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 381,000 copies (as of December 2010). The album's first single, "Over It", was a Pop Top 30 hit and was certified gold in 2008. Her second album, Unbroken, was released on Verve Forecast Records on January 5, 2010, and debuted at No. 27 on the "Billboard 200". The album featured the single "Had It All", which peaked at number 22 on the AC chart.
Her third album, the holiday-themed Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You, was released on October 12, 2010. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart, while the single "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" peaked at number 16 on the "Billboard" AC chart. McPhee released her fourth album, Hysteria, on September 18, 2015. She released her fifth album, I Fall in Love Too Easily, composed of jazz standards, on November 17, 2017.
She has also established an acting career, co-starring in The House Bunny, Shark Night 3D, and The Tiger Rising (2022). She starred as Karen Cartwright on the NBC series Smash, as Paige Dineen on the CBS series Scorpion, and as Bailey on Netflix's Country Comfort (2021).
She made her Broadway debut in the musical Waitress, taking over the role of Jenna in 2018 and again in 2019-2020 and also starred in the role in London's West End in 2019.